Take-down firearm



April 2, 1935; A. A. ROWLEY 1,996,124

TAKE-DOWN FIREARM Filed Sept. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. A. ROWLEY ApriI 2, 1935.

TAKE-DOWN FIREARM I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1935 0 a" W w Patented Apr. 2, 1935 fT a -D I E EMYY ensure. homey, H maemoenn; as'signor to Winchester Repeating Arms Oompany, New l YHave'n 'flonn a icorporation of Maryland Application sepaj a iaj ase; se ial No. 589,1 8 '1 18'Claims. (Cl.'42'-'75.)J 2 1 I a This invention was to firearms: of naps commonly referredto as "ftake-downorg takeapart firearms; that is to say, firearms in which the rear portion or butt unitand the front portion or barrel unit are readily separablefrom oneuanother to enable'the firearm to be more convenientlypacked and transported.

recoil. i

,One of the objects of. the present invention is to. provide at a low cost for manufacture simple, reliable andconvenient meanspfor readily connecting and disconnecting the separable units oiratake-downjfirearm.,

I .j n- A further objectis to provide ,a. takeedown firearm of such design that r the mode ;of connecting and} disconnecting the separable: units thereof so simple, obvious and .selfeyident as not to require more than .ordinaryskill and prace tically'no instruction for itsproper use.

Another object is to provide attaching of such character as will efiectively-and simul taneously bind the separable unitsgof a, firearm againstdisplacement 01111008611658 inboth :verti-v cal and longitudinal directions.

A further object 'istoprovideeifective attache ing means for thexseparable units of a take-down firearm, characterized by freedom from acciden-r tal loosening, especially under repeated shocks of A still further object is to provideiconnecting meansyfor holding theseparable ,units of afirearm together, f suchcharacter thata tight and rigidconnectiorr may be efiected de 1 spite the wearing of the parts.

Another object is .to provide a superior takedown firearm wherein a single spring 'servestboth to press the trigger forward and topress' a dea tent into engagement with; a portion of the -cone necting-means for holding the twojunits of the firearm together. l I

Other objects and. advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the accompanying of-Fig,. ;f y 1 i a brolgen perspective yiewof. the front Fig.4 is a'similar iview talsenion the l-ine 4 .4

, portion or -tsocal led barrel unit of the firearm;,.,

Fig,;6:is .a-brokenview in side elevation ofrthe rear. or butt of the arm, the body being stripped of-the bolt and other parts not directly involved in the 1 present invention;

Fig i is.aperspective. view of the plate-like detent; detachedg i Fig. 8 a similar View of the lockingban;

@Eig. 9 is a similarviewof the operating-screwf ter is usuallyiormed otwood and serves as an insulating hand-grip. i

. The body-cover; fabove described is adapted to set over and embrace, s0 to speak, a body. 21'

carrying an integral trigger-guard 28v and provided in oneof: its side faces with a longitudinal recess 129 in which'aboltV-unit (not shown) is adapted'to reciprocate. Attached to the rear end of the body 2Lis the ,usual'butt-stock 39 secured in place thereto byya" magazine-tube 3! which may be of any approved construction and requires no detailed description herein.

The complementary side-walls 22, 23 of the body-cover 20, before'referred to, are respectively formed with rearwardly-extending locating-lugs 32- 32 adapted to fit,'when the arm is assembled, insi m-ilarly shaped locating-notches 33 formed in the bod'yZ'lit Formed in the inner face of each of-the side-walls 22 and.23 of the body-cover 29 and'leading forwardly-from the locating lugs 32 is a longitudinalentry-groove 34 intersecting a verticaljlocking-groove 35,the lowerportion of the rear wall of each of which constitutes a vertical forwardly-facing locking-abutment 355 .for the p'urpose as will'hereinafter appear. The intersecting grooves 34 and together form what might be termed a T-shaped groove or cut in each otthe side-wal1s22 and ZS. From the foregoing, it will be understood that the inner face oi each of the side-walls 22 and 23 of the body-cover is provided with the features 34, and 36.

For the purpose of interlocking the forward unit (comprising the body-cover 20, the barrel 25 and fore-end 26, etc.) with the rear portion or unit (including the body 21 and butt-stock 30, etc.), a transverse locking-bar 31 is employed which is of general cylindricalformsave that it has its respective opposite ends milled ofi into substantially-rectangular form to provide each thereof with an axially-extending locking-lug 38. One face 39 of each of the said lugs provides a locking-abutment engageable with its complementary locking-abutment 36 in the body-cover 25, as especially clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. I I

The locking-bar 37 is mounted in .and adapted to reciprocate in a guide-slot extending transthe locking-abutment 36 of the body-cover 2D.

and obliquely disposed with respect thereto.

- Intersecting the lower end' of the guide-slot 40 and correspondingly angularly disposed is a clearance-passage 4| freely receiving the threaded stem 41 of an operating-screw 42 extendingthrough and having threaded engagement with a threaded bore 43 extending transversely through the looking-bar 31', before referred to.

The lower end of the clearance-passage 4|, above referred to, is enlarged treat 44 to receive the knurled head-portion 45 of the operatingscrew 42, which head-portion extends diagonally downward beyond the under surface of the body 21 so as to be conveniently available for manual operation. 1 k

For the purpose of limiting the axial movement of the operating-screw 42, the head-portion 45 of the same is provided with an annular peripheral groove 43 into which extends a stoppin 4? mountedin the body 21. The upper face of the head-portion 45 of the operating-screw is beveled as shown and cut to provide an annular series .of sloping detent-notches 4'8 'engageable on occasion by the beveled rear endor nose 49 of a plate-like detent 5E The plate-like detent 50, above referred to, is located in a rearwardly-opening slot15l formed in the rear portion of a trigger 52 and is mounted with capacity for both reciprocating movement and slight rocking movementon a pin 53 ex tending transversely through the body 21 and serving, also, as a pivot-pin for the trigger-52. The forward end of the de'tent fifl is provided as shownwith a longitudinal slot '54 receiving the pin 53 to permit the reciprocatingmovement of the detent, as above referred to.

,The'detent 55 is also formed adjacent its under edge with a forwardly-extending spring-retaining finger 55 over which is set the rear end of a helical trig'ger-springfifi which is seated at its forward end against-the forward wall of a spring-pocketor recess 5'! formed in' the trigger 52 in position to open rearwardly therefrom and is intersected by the slot 5| therein.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the spring 55- as thus constructed and arranged serves to not only urge the trigger 52 forwardly, but also serves to urge the detent 50 rearwardly, so as to engage its beveled edge 49 with the detent-notches 48 of the operating-screw 42 when the said screw is threaded into substantially its'home position.

The present invention is, as before noted,

mainly concerned with the take-down feature and associated parts of the firearm, so that details of the arm other than those. before referred to require no detailed showing or description herein, other than to say that the body 21 is provided. with a forwardly-extending lockingfinger or lug 58 which, when the firearm is assembled,overlies a locking-ledge 59 on the body cover 20 and serves at this point to prevent the vertical separation of the units.

With the barrel-unit and the butt-unit of the firearm assembled together as shown, for instance, .in Figs. 1 and 2,'the operating-screw 42 is sufiiciently tightened to draw the locking-bar 31 firmly downward so as to engage the rearwardly-facing locking-abutments 39 at its respective opposite ends with the complementary forwardly-facing locking-abutments 36 on the inner faces of the side-walls 22 and 23 ofthe body-cover 20.

Now, owing to the angular path in which the said locking-bar travels in the guide-slot 40, the surfaces 36, 39 and 4!] will engage with a camlike or wedging action to-concurrently draw the body-cover 20 (together with the parts associated therewith) rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the body 21 (and the parts associated therewith) and firmlyhold the said members together against all looseness. When'the operating-screw 42 is in its home position, so to speak, as'above described, it will be prevented from being accidentally loosened, as for instance by repeated shocks of recoil, by the engagement of the-beveled edge 49 of the detent 50 with the detent-notches 48 in the said screw.

' Now, should it be desired to take down the firearm, the operating-screw 42 is threaded outwardly until the upper edge of the annular groove 46 therein engages with the stop-pin 41, after which the continued turning of the screw will forciblylift the locking-bar 31 upwardly to the upper end of the guide-slot 40, at which time the locking-abutments 39, at its respective opposite ends, will be clear of the locking-abutments 36 of the body-cover and the lockinglugs 38 on which the said abutments 39 are formed will be brought into longitudinal alignment with the entry-grooves 34 in the inner faces of the respective opposite side-walls 22 and 23 of the body-cover. 1 It may be here explained that the initial loosening of the operating-screw 42 serves to withdraw its detent-teeth 48 from the beveled edge or nose 49 of the detent 50, so that the turning movement of the screw thereafter is free of re-' straint of such detent and also free of the clicking noise occasioned by the engagement of the said parts.

With the locking-bar 31 elevated .to the top of the guide-slot 4i] in the body 21, as above described, the barrel-unit, comprising the bodycover 20, barrel 25, fore-end 25, etc., is free to be longitudinally separated from the butt-unit, during which operation the locking-lugs 38 at the respective'opposite ends of the locking bar 31 will pass through the entry-grooves 34 and the lug 58 will be disengaged from the ledge 59.

'When it is desired to reassemble the firearm, the butt-unit and the barrel-unit are slipped longitudinally together, so as to' enter the lockmg-lugs 32 in the body-cover into the lockingnotches -33 in the body 21 and at the same time cause the ioek rlg mg's 3a or thelocking-barfl toreenter the interiorof the said body-cover zfl lthrough the entryegrooves 34. "Concurrently.

with theopejrat-ion just described; the lug 58 the ledgefifll will also be reengagedrg v i i Now, upon thezL-operating-screw- 42 being and tatedyso as' tothreadits stem" m into the threaded bore' liiflin' thelocking bar-jltthe said locking barwvillibe drawn downwardly to en gage, with a cam-likeaction, its rearwardly-fac ing lock'ing abutments'; 3'9 .withrthe forwardly v facing lockingabutments 36 of the body-cover 20." Whentheparts 3B and 39 just referred to are seated, thefurther turning of the operatingscrew 3 52 z'will serve to ;move' the 2 same upwardly on itsinclined pathfluntil"the uppervfaceiof its head-portion 45 seats=against'the under-face of theenlarged lowerend'M of the passage 41. -As,

the operating-screw 42' rises, as just'described, its" detent-notches '48 will be, in-the'latter part of the said. movement, reengaged with the beveled nose'tea of theI-detent '50,"to thus 'be securely held against accidental displacement; but capable of being forcibly rotated-when desired;

From thedroregoingmit will be seenthat the two unitszof thefirearm are firmlysecuredtounscrewing of 'theoperating-screw 42;thesame gether in a manner which prevents loosenesa despite slight variations in manufacturaor despite the wearingloflthe engaging parts, such, for in"- stance, as the abutment-surfaces 36 and 39.4:v

It will be furtherlnoted that the detent-teeth 4B are engaged withthebevelednose 49 of the detent 5B onlywhen theoperating-screw 42 is at substantially its home. position. t Thus, uponthe very quickly recedes from the detent, whichno "longer imposes restraintthereon, nor does it occasion"objectionableclicking during: the entire- 40F operation of the saidlscrew. Conversely, upon the operating-screw 42 being threaded home,

this action is almost entirely completed before the detent-notches 58s are reengaged with the nose '49 "of the detent 5b.

The invention mayfbe" carriedfoutother specific ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes c'oming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Iclaiinz .i

a i. A take-down firearm including a barrel-unit anda butt-unit separable one from the other and each'provided with a locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect tothe complementary locking-abutment ofthe other unit, the two said locking-abutments extending in a direction mainly vertical; anda n' ov'a'ble locking member engag ing with a wedge-like action thelsaid relatively obliquely-disposed locking abutments of the re- 1y together. 1 p p p i i v 2. A take-down firearm including a barrel-unit and abutt-unit separable one from the other and spective'units to draw the saidunits longitudinaleach provided with "a locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect to the complementary locking-abutment of the other unit, the two said locking-abutmentsextending in a direction mainly vertical; and alocking-inember movably organized with one of the said units and engaging with a wedge-like action the said relativelyobliquelydisposed locking-abutmentstof both of the said units to draw the same longitudinally together.

. '3. A take-down firearm :including a barrelunit and a butt-unit separable one. from the other and each provided withv a locking'eabutment 010- liquely disposed withrespect to, the complementary locking-abutment of the other unit, the two said locking-abutment's,extending in a direction ganizediwith one ofithe said unitsiand engaging the saidrelatively obliquely-disposedlocking abutments of both ofthe-said units to draw the same together; and an operatingescrew organized with the 'umtwith which the said locking-member is organized and havingtthreaded engagement with the said locking-member ion-forcibly moving the sameinto itslocking positiongfi; l i I 4'. .In a take-dovmrfirearmj thecombination with" a barrel-unit providedjwitha forwardlyfacing lockingeabutme'nt; of a butt-unit separable from the said barrel unit-and provided with a i mainly vertical; alocking-member movably or- I V rearWardly-facing locking abutment obliquely disposed with respect to the locking abutment of I the said barrel-unit; and a movable 1ocking-mem- I ber engaging the said relatively obliquely-disposed lockin -abutmentsof the, respective units to draw the said units'togetherh- 5; Ina take-down firearm,- the combination with a barrel-unit having? twoi-spaced-apart for:

we rdly-facing locking-abutments; of a butt-unit separable from the said barrel-unit and provided with *a. rearwardly-facing locking-abutment in-' terposedlaterally of thefirearmbetween the two said locking-abutments of the-said, barrel-unit and obliquely disposed with respect thereto; and

amovable locking-memberengaging all three of the said locking-abutments to draw the said'units together. i-

6. In a take-down firearm, .the combination with a barrel-unitprovided with a forwardly-facing locking-abutment; of a buttrunit separable from the said barrel-unitand provided with a rearwardly-facing l locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect -to y the v locking-abutment v of the said barrel-unit; a, locking member movably' organized with-1 the said butt-unit and engageable withthe said relatively obliquely-disposed locking-abutmentsof the said units to draw the same together; and anaoperatingescrew organized with the said butteunitpand engaging with the said locking-member to force the same intoits locking position. 7 p y a '7. In a take-"down firearm, the combination with a barrel-unitihaving; two spaced-apart for wardly-facing locking-abutmentsy of a butt-unit separable from the saidbarrel-unit and pro- ---:8.vIn a-take-down firearmgthe combination with a barrel-unit including a body-cover having complementary side-walls, each provided with a l locking-abutment; of a butt-unit including a body having a locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect to the locking-abutments of the said body-cover; and a movable'locking-member engaging the said relatively obliquely-disposed the said'body-cover; a locking-memberengag ing' all three of the said abutments todraw the said units together; and an operating-screw engaging with the said locking-member fo'rforcibly moving the same into its locking position.

10. In a take-down firearm, the combination With a barrel-unit including a body-coverv hav-- ing complementary side-walls,.each provided'with a forwardly-facing locking-abutment; of a buttunit includinga body having arearwardly-facing locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect to the locking-abutments of the said body-cover; and a movable locking-memberengagingithe said relatively obliquely-disposed oppositely-facing locking-abutmentsof the respective units to draw the said units together. 7

11. In a take-down firearm, with a barrel-unit-including a body-cover having complementary side-walls, each provided with a forwardly-facing locking-abutment; of a buttunit including a bodyhaving a rearwardly-facing locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect to the locking-abutment of the said bodycover; a bar-like locking-member engaging the said oppositely-facing locking-abutments of the respective units to draw the said units together; and a rotatable operating-member effecting the movement of the said locking-member for forcibly moving the same into engagement with the said obliquely-disposed locking-abutments.

'12. In a take-down firearm, thecombination with a barrel-unit including a body-cover having complementary side-walls, the inner face of each of which latter being provided with a loci:- ing-abutment; of a butt-unit including a body having a locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect to the locking-abutments of the engageable with'the said locking-abutments; and

an operating-screw also organized with the said butt-unit and havingthreaded engagement with the said locking-member intermediate the ends thereof to forcibly move the same into engagement with the said locking-abutments. i

14. A take-down firearmuincluding a barrelunit and a butt-unit separable one from the other and each provided with a locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respect to"the'complemen-- the combination taryzlocking-abutment of the other'unit; a movable: locking-imemberorganized with one of the of the [said locking-member forv forcibly moving v the same into its locking position; and restraining-means including a yielding. detent and an annular series of detent-notches intere ngagingh with the said .detentvto. releasably hold the said operating-member against accidental displacement. I a Q p Y 15. A take-down fire-arm including-aibarrelunit andla butt-unit separable one fromthe other and each provided-with a locking-abutment obliquely disposed with respectto the complementary lockingabutment of the other unit; a movablelocking-member organized with one of the'said units; a rotatable operating-'member provided with an annularseries of detent-notches and effecting the movement of the said locking-memher for forcibly moving the same into engagement with-the said abutments; and a spring-pressed detent 'engageable with the detent-notches of the said operating-screw for releasably holding the same against accidental displacement.

16; In a 'take-down'firearm, the combination with a barrel-unit and aibutt-unit separable one from the other; manually-operable locking-means for drawing the said units together; a trigger organiz'e'd with one of the said units; a detent for releasably holding the said locking-means against accidental displacement; and a spring concurrently urging the said trigger into its forward position-and the said detent into position to hold the said locking-means against accidental displacement.

117;. In a take-down firearm, the combinationwith a barrel-unit and a butt-unit separable one from the other;'a movable locking-member for drawing said units togethery'a rotary operatingmember effecting the movement of the said lockin'g-member; a trigger organized with one of the said units; a detent for yieldingly holding the saidvoperatingmember against accidental rotation; and a spring constructed and arranged to concurrently urge the said trigger forwardly and to urge the, said detent into position to hold the said operating-member against accidental rotation. 7

- ,18. In a take-down firearm, the combination with a barrel-unit and a butt-unit separable one from the other"; of a movable locking-member for drawing the said units together; a rotary operating-member effecting the movement of the said locking-member and provided. with an annular series of detent-notches; atrigger pivotally mountedin the said butt-unit and provided with a detentreceiving recess; a detent extending into the detent-receiving recess in the said trigger and .engageable with the detent-notches in the said operating-member; a pivot-member extending through both the said trigger and the said detent; and a spring constructed and arrangedto concurrently urge the said trigger forwardly and to uijge he said detent into engagement with the detent-notches of the said operating-member.

' ARTHUR A. ROWLEY. 

